Halloween Costumes for Kids (Ideas for 2023)

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Spooky season is back in style, and as the leaves turn a crisp golden hue and pumpkin spice fills the air, one question lingers in every parent’s mind: “What will my kiddo dress up as this Halloween?” If you’ve ever felt the annual costume decision was a bit daunting, you’re not alone. Parents everywhere feel the pressure to make each Halloween unique and memorable. From trending characters to classics, deciding on the perfect outfit can sometimes feel overwhelming amidst the sea of options.

But here’s the good news: This year, you don’t have to look any further! We’ve curated a list of imaginative, delightful, and utterly unforgettable costume ideas for kids that go beyond the usual store-bought options. Whether your child wants to explore the depths of the ocean as a mesmerizing jellyfish, become a walking masterpiece with a paint palette costume, or zoom through space as the entire solar system, there’s something here for every personality and interest.

Dive in, let your imagination run wild, and remember – Halloween is all about having fun, creating memories, and letting kids (and adults!) step into a fantastical world for a night. So, gear up for a Halloween that’s sure to be filled with laughter, creativity, and a sprinkle of magic!

WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS WITH YOUR KIDS? PIN IT FOR LATER!

Halloween Costume Ideas for 2023

1. Eco-Superhero

The planet needs saving, and who better than our little warriors to lead the charge? Deck your child out in green capes and recycled accessories for a costume that’s not just cool but also sends a positive message!

2. DIY Astronaut

The cosmos is the limit. Using silver clothing, add patches and DIY accessories, perhaps even a cardboard helmet. It’s a classic look, with a homemade touch.

3. Little Mermaid

Dive deep into a magical underwater world with a shimmering Little Mermaid costume, perfect for those who’ve always dreamed of being part of Ariel’s enchanting realm.

4. Mario Bros.

Power up with a classic Mario Bros costume, and let your child jump into a world of adventures, racing through the Mushroom Kingdom and saving Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches!

5. Robo-Kid

With tech being all the rage, why not turn your toddler into the cutest robot ever? Silver leggings, cardboard boxes, and some imaginative decorations and you’re set!

6. Garden Gnome

Red hats, white beards, and a belt buckle. Perhaps even add a DIY toadstool or lantern. This costume is as cute as it is iconic!

7. Novelty Noodles

Inspired by the instant noodles craze! A DIY hat shaped like a noodle cup will surely make your kid the talk of the town.

8. Mini Influencer

Dress your little one in trendy clothes, hand them a pretend smartphone, and let them mimic the social media stars. A bit tongue-in-cheek, but oh-so-2023!

9. Shadow Figure

Using all-black clothing and some crafty cut-outs, make your child into a mysterious shadow figure. A little eerie, but cool and unique.

10. Little Lighthouse

Brighten up the night with this idea. Transform your kid into a guiding lighthouse using paper or cloth, and maybe even a flashlight for the beacon.

11. Cloud Dreamer

Every day can be sunny with your little one as a walking daydream. Dress them in fluffy cotton or pillow stuffing on blue clothing, and add a sun or rainbow accessory for that magical touch.

12. Bookworm

Knowledge is power! Attach images of popular book covers to a green outfit, add some glasses, and carry a book. Bonus points for a fun hat that looks like a worm!

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13. Potted Plant

Perfect for little nature lovers. Use a cardboard box as the “pot” and dress your child in green. Add some fake flowers or leaves to complete the look.

14. Paint Palette

For the budding artist! Use a piece of cardboard as a palette, attach various colored “paints” (sponges or cotton balls dipped in paint), and pair it with a paintbrush.

15. Jellyfish

A beautiful underwater creature! Use an umbrella and attach streamers or fabric strips to simulate tentacles. When they walk, it’ll float above them, giving a lovely floating jellyfish effect.

16. Clock

It’s “time” for Halloween! Dress your child as a walking, talking clock using cardboard. Bonus points if the hands move!

17. Solar System

For the space enthusiast. Attach planets to a black outfit in their order from the sun. Your child is the center of the universe in this costume!

18. Barbie

Step into a world of glitz and glamour with a Barbie costume, letting your child shine bright as the iconic fashionista ready for her next fabulous adventure!

19. Sugar Cube

Oh, so sweet! Dress your little one in an all-white outfit, and attach white foam or sponges to resemble sugar cubes.

20. Marshmello DJ

Get ready to dance the night away. Use boxes to create the robot’s body and arms, add dials and buttons, and carry a “turntable” made from cardboard.

21. Walking Aquarium

Decorate clear plastic with fish stickers, wear blue clothing, and become a magical marine spectacle.

22. Roblox Avatar

Dive into the virtual world with a “Roblox” avatar costume, featuring a blocky character design, vibrant clothing options, and quirky accessories that reflect the dynamic and customizable nature of the game’s digital universe.

23. Raya from “Raya and the Last Dragon”

The brave warrior princess from the animated movie.

DIY: Get a blue jumpsuit and add yellow fabric patterns to mimic her warrior suit. Add a blue cape and carry a DIY staff made from a long stick and paper.

24. Rainbow Friends from Roblox

Celebrate the vibrant world of Roblox with the Rainbow Friends costumes, showcasing a brilliant spectrum of colors and character designs that pay tribute to the game’s lively and imaginative community of players.

25. Pikachu

Mix styles from different eras – think Victorian clothes with futuristic gadgets, or a caveman with a toy robot.

26. Among Us Costume

Step into the world of deception and strategy with the inflatable Among Us costume for kids, a fun and puffed-up tribute to the popular game’s quirky crewmate characters. Perfect for little imposters and crewmates alike!

27. L.O.L. Surprise Diva

Embrace the sparkle and sassy style of the L.O.L. universe with the L.O.L. Surprise Diva costume, complete with iconic leopard prints and pink high-top shoes; it’s the perfect outfit for budding divas ready to strut their stuff this Halloween!

28. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costumes

Dive into the action-packed streets of New York City with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes, featuring vibrant bandanas and detailed shell backpacks; it’s a nostalgic throwback for kids eager to channel their inner hero in a half shell!

29. Gabby’s Dollhouse

Unleash a world of feline fantasy and delightful dollhouse adventures with Gabby’s Dollhouse costumes, capturing the charm and whimsy of the animated series’ colorful characters.

30. Miles Morales from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2”

The next-gen Spider-Man with iconic black and red suit.

DIY: Wear a black and red Spider-Man costume or make one using a black bodysuit and red fabric paint for details. Don’t forget the web-patterned mask!

31. Spider- Gwen

Swing into action and embrace the bold, stylish essence of Spider-Gwen with costumes that highlight her iconic white and pink spider-themed design from the Marvel universe.

32. ‘Black Panther’ Shuri

Swing into action and embrace the bold, stylish essence of Spider-Gwen with costumes that highlight her iconic white and pink spider-themed design from the Marvel universe.

33. Mime-in-training

Striped shirt, white face paint, and playful expressions – no words needed!

35. Future Farmer

Overalls, a toy tractor, and maybe even a plush farm animal in tow.

36. Nature Enthusiast

Attach fake leaves, flowers, and butterflies to an outfit. Perfect for the child who loves the outdoors!

37. Night Sky

Dress in deep blues or black, sprinkle stars and perhaps a crescent moon, and let them shine!

Hope these fit the bill! Remember, the most important thing about a costume is the fun and memories made while wearing it! Happy crafting!

Tips for Success:

  • Always prioritize comfort. Make sure the costume doesn’t itch, overheat, or restrict movement.
  • Opt for reusable or recycled materials where you can. It’s eco-friendly and often more cost-effective.
  • Do a test run before the big night to ensure everything fits and stays in place.

Skills Learned:
Creating or choosing a costume helps in:

  • Boosting creativity and imagination.
  • Enhancing decision-making skills.
  • Learning about different cultures, histories, or trends through various costume themes.

As the magic of Halloween draws near, remember it’s all about the memories and fun. No matter what your child decides to dress up as, they’ll surely light up the night. Happy Haunting!

Age Suitability

This activity is good for toddlers aged children 3 years old and up with adult assistance.

Mess Level

The mess level for this activity is low.

Difficulty to Create 

Low.

Skills Developed

Language development, shape recognition, color recognition, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, imaginative play, creativity.

Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

  • 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
  • Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
  • Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!

Shop our ready made play kits here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS WITH YOUR KIDS? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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